Police begin Fourth of July holiday week drunken driving crackdown

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- There will be more police officers on the streets this Fourth of July holiday week looking for drunken drivers.

The Michigan State Police in connection with 160 agencies statewide are starting their drunken driving crackdown on Monday.The extra enforcement runs through July 7.

During the July enforcement effort last year, 126 people were arrested, 23 of them for having a blood-alcohol content of 0.17 or higher. Four people died in traffic accidents last year during the holiday period, although none were alcohol-related.

The effort is paid for by federal funds. It is expected to cost about $235,000 statewide, according to Michigan State Police Lt. Brian Cole.